AMERICAN PRESTIGE host, historian and author Daniel Bessner episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 2, 2025 · 1H 6M

AMERICAN PRESTIGE host, historian and author Daniel Bessner

from The Movies That Made Me · host SpectreVision Radio

Author/historian Daniel Bessner discusses his favorite dystopian films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Vanishing Point (1971) Mad Max (1971) Casablanca (1941) Looper (2012) Hollywood Boulevard (1976) Chronicle (2012) Fruitvale Station (2013) Black Panther (2018) Knives Out (2019) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Children of Men (2010) Idiocracy (2006) The Matrix (1999) The Animatrix (2003) Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) They Live (1988) Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) Minority Report (2002) Magnolia (1999) War of the Worlds (2005) Mission: Impossible (1996) Escape From LA (1996) Escape From New York (1981) Robocop (1987) The Warriors (1979) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 12 Monkeys (1995) Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1988) The Fisher King (1991) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Brazil (1985) Time Bandits (1981) V for Vendetta (2005) Gattaca (1997) Mad Max (1979) The Road Warrior (1981) Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Other Notable Items Our Patreon! Our pals at Movies Unlimited The Hollywood Food Coalition The American Cinematheque in Los Angeles Spike Lee George Miller Steven Seagal Daniel’s American Prestige podcast Lawrence Summers  Daniel’s “Life and Death of Hollywood" article in Harper’s Bazaar Rian Johnson Bruce Willis Joseph Gordon-Levitt Josh Trank  Ryan Coogler Dante Alighieri Barack Obama Poker Face TV series (2023- ) Laura Dern Carrie Fisher Clive Owen Julianne Moore Lana Wachowski Lily Wachowski Slavoj Zizek Keith David Rowdy Roddy Piper Joe Pantoliano John Carpenter Harlan Ellison Tom Cruise The Mission: Impossible film franchise Philip K. Dick Steven Spielberg Max von Sydow Kurt Russell Peter Fonda “Theme From New York, New York” song by Frank Sinatra (1977) 12 Monkeys TV series (2015-18) Bruce Willis Brad Pitt Terry Gilliam Henry Jaglom The Occupy Wall Street movement V for Vendetta graphic novel series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (1982-89) Ethan Hawke Jude Law Ernest Borgnine Nicholas Hoult Tom Hardy Charlize Theron George Miller Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road book by Kyle Buchanan (2022) The Star Wars franchise The Indiana Jones franchise Mel Gibson Daniel’s American Prestige interview with Glen Lowry This list is also available on Movies Unlimited. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author/historian Daniel Bessner discusses his favorite dystopian films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Vanishing Point (1971) Mad Max (1971) Casablanca (1941) Looper (2012) Hollywood Boulevard (1976) Chronicle (2012) Fruitvale Station (2013) Black Panther (2018) Knives Out (2019) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Children of Men (2010) Idiocracy (2006) The Matrix (1999) The Animatrix (2003) Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) They Live (1988) Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) Minority Report (2002) Magnolia (1999) War of the Worlds (2005) Mission: Impossible (1996) Escape From LA (1996) Escape From New York (1981) Robocop (1987) The Warriors (1979) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 12 Monkeys (1995) Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1988) The Fisher King (1991) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Brazil (1985) Time Bandits (1981) V for Vendetta (2005) Gattaca (1997) Mad Max (1979) The Road Warrior (1981) Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Other Notable Items Our Patreon! Our pals at Movies Unlimited The Hollywood Food Coalition The American Cinematheque in Los Angeles Spike Lee George Miller Steven Seagal Daniel’s American Prestige podcast Lawrence Summers  Daniel’s “Life and Death of Hollywood" article in Harper’s Bazaar Rian Johnson Bruce Willis Joseph Gordon-Levitt Josh Trank  Ryan Coogler Dante Alighieri Barack Obama Poker Face TV series (2023- ) Laura Dern Carrie Fisher Clive Owen Julianne Moore Lana Wachowski Lily Wachowski Slavoj Zizek Keith David Rowdy Roddy Piper Joe Pantoliano John Carpenter Harlan Ellison Tom Cruise The Mission: Impossible film franchise Philip K. Dick Steven Spielberg Max von Sydow Kurt Russell Peter Fonda “Theme From New York, New York” song by Frank Sinatra (1977) 12 Monkeys TV series (2015-18) Bruce Willis Brad Pitt Terry Gilliam Henry Jaglom The Occupy Wall Street movement V for Vendetta graphic novel series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (1982-89) Ethan Hawke Jude Law Ernest Borgnine Nicholas Hoult Tom Hardy Charlize Theron George Miller Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road book by Kyle Buchanan (2022) The Star Wars franchise The Indiana Jones franchise Mel Gibson Daniel’s American Prestige interview with Glen Lowry This list is also available on Movies Unlimited. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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AMERICAN PRESTIGE host, historian and author Daniel Bessner

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Movies That Made Me?

This episode is 1 hour and 6 minutes long.

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This episode was published on December 2, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Author/historian Daniel Bessner discusses his favorite dystopian films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Vanishing Point (1971) Mad Max (1971) Casablanca (1941) Looper (2012) Hollywood Boulevard...

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